New east Carmel neighborhood project will preserve 180-year-old historic home

A historic home from the 1800s is now in jeopardy.(Photo: Michelle Pemberton/IndyStar)

CARMEL — The City Council approved a neighborhood development Monday that would preserve a historic home and bring a mix of 165 single-family homes, townhouses and condominiums to northeast Carmel.

Old Town Companies last year proposed the development, called The Overlook, on about 60 acres northeast of East 136th Street, or Smokey Row Road, and Keystone Parkway. The council voted 6-1 to approve the project, with council member Tony Green voting no.

The development proposal came several months after Beazer Homes withdrew its own proposal early last year to build a neighborhood on the same property. Beazer withdrew its proposal after concerns were raised by neighbors about the design of the homes, which would have not been suited for empty-nesters, and their potential cost.

As part of the Beazer proposal, preservation group Indiana Landmarks had agreed to restore and sell the Wilkinson-Hull historic home on the property as a residence. The home was built in the 1800s — the initial log cabin base built in 1837 — and now sits vacant.

Old Town officials said their proposal, which will be designed to appeal to empty nesters, includes working with the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission to make the historic home a key part of the neighborhood and turn it into an amenity instead of selling it, which is something neighbors also wanted.

"We will fund any renovations and will work closely with the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission to get their blessing on how we will renovate it," Justin Moffett, Old Town CEO, told IndyStar. "We really would like it to be an active space. We'd like to see it be a clubhouse or a gathering space for the community there."

Moffett said that now that the development is moving forward, the Carmel Historic Preservation Commission will propose an ordinance to the City Council to proclaim the home as a local historic landmark.

Old Town Companies will build a neighborhood, called The Overlook, on about 60 acres northeast of East 136th Street, or Smokey Row Road, and Keystone Parkway. The project will preserve the William-Hull historic home, which was built in the 1800s and sits on the property.(Photo: Old Town Companies)

The company last year filed a request with the City Council to rezone the property from an R-1 residential zoning designation, meaning one residential unit per lot, to a planned unit development, which would allow for mixed residences, natural preservation and active green spaces.

Neighbors and home owner association members created the Carmel 59 Acres group to represent the neighborhoods. They were mostly concerned about density, which they believed would lead to more traffic at the intersection of 136th Street and Keystone Parkway, group member Kyle Monk told IndyStar.

To address those concerns, the developers agreed to bring the number of units down from more than 230 to 165. Developers also agreed to design an entrance to the neighborhood off of the 136th Street and Keystone Parkway roundabout to help ease traffic flow, according to public documents. And the developer is working with A&F Engineering to further study the traffic impact in the area.

In a statement emailed to IndyStar, the group said they look forward to collaborating with the developer as the project moves forward.

"We appreciated (Moffett's) willingness to meet with us and take our feedback into consideration, which resulted in a much better PUD," the statement said.

Council member Sue Finkam, who represents northeast Carmel, said she wants residents to know that the council will continue to keep an eye on traffic and quality of life in the area as the project progresses.

“I would like people to understand that this is a dynamic area with a lot of things going on, and we are committed to keep evaluating traffic in that intersection,” Finkam said. “But like a lot of intersections in Carmel, there will be a very intense rush ‘quarter-hour,’ and that’s just part of being in an evolving community.”

Old Town has been designing and building custom homes in Carmel since 2008. Some of its developments include Sunrise on the Monon at 99th Street and Westfield Boulevard, Maple Ridge near Cool Creek Park and homes downtown.

Moffet said plans to break ground are slated for this summer and completion of the first phase of the project is expected for summer 2020.

IndyStar reporter Natalia Contreras writes about things to do in Hamilton County. She can be reached at 317-444-6187 or natalia.contreras@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter, @NataliaECG